Japan to speed trade talks with 3 Asian nations
Afp, Kuala Lumpur
Japan said Saturday it had agreed to accelerate negotiations on separate free-trade pacts with Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines in meetings held ahead of the inaugural East Asia Summit. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and his Thai counterpart Kantathi Suphamongkhon resolved to speed up work on the details of a bilateral economic partnership agreement, Japan said in a brief statement. Japan and Thailand reached broad agreement in September but are yet sign the deal. "The two ministers agreed to order working-level officials to speed up the work on the text and to aim at signing the agreement at the earliest possible time," the statement said.
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